Use of geofences for location-based activation and control of services

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a geofence service that enables various remote control and automatic operations based a user's current geographic position as determined by the user's mobile device's current geographic location. The geofence service enables the user to define one or more geofences based on specific geographic locations. Such geofences may be applied against several geofence applications for remote and automatic control of devices. In one embodiment, the mobile device's volume or power control settings are adjusted based on the user's location inside or outside a geofence. In one embodiment, temperature setting of a building or house is controlled based on user's proximity to a geofence. In one embodiment, electrical appliances within a home are activated and controlled automatically based on user's current geographic location.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method, comprising
 receiving, in association with a temperature control device located at a given base location, the temperature control device having a temperature setting that is variably set to different values based on corresponding distances of a user from the base location, an indication of a user moving from a first geofence to a second geofence of a plurality of geofences, each geofence associated with identifying the user at a location outside of the base location and situated with respect to the base location; wherein each of the plurality of geofences has an associated and distinct temperature value or temperature range value, the temperature value or the temperature range value corresponding to a temperature setting in the temperature control device, and wherein geographic location identifying capabilities in the user's device provides information related to the user's current geographic location, the current geographic location used at least in part to determine the user's moving from the first geofence to the second geofence; 
 upon receiving the indication of the user moving from the first geofence to the second geofence, determining that the user is moving in a direction closer to the base location based on the direction of movement and relative distance of the user from the base location; further determining a first temperature value or first temperature range value associated with the second geofence; and 
 in response to the determination, causing the temperature setting in the temperature control device at the base location to be adjusted from its current temperature value to substantially the first temperature value or within the first temperature range value, the first temperature value or first temperature range value closer in value to an optimally desired temperature setting value of the temperature control device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second geofence is embedded within the first geofence. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of geofences have at least a partial overlap. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a given geofence corresponds to a given geographic region based on one or more of:
 a zip or postal identification information associated with the given geographic region; 
 a boundary established in a map identifying the given geographic region; or 
 a substantially radial perimeter defining the given geographic location with respect to a particular geographic location. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device is a temperature thermostat located at a particular geographic location associated with the user, further wherein the user's mobile computing device is remote to the particular geographic location, and wherein the temperature setup control action controls the temperature setting of the temperature thermostat based at least in part on the user's presence in a given geofence of the plurality of geofences. 
     
     
       6. A method, comprising:
 determining, using a first user location of a user based on the geo-location of the user's mobile device, that the user is at a first distance away from a base location, the base location having a thermostat control with a temperature setting that is variably set to different values based on corresponding distances of the user away from the base location; 
 determining, based on a movement of the user from the first user location to a second user location outside of the base location, a second distance of the user away from the base location; 
 based on the second distance being shorter than the first distance, causing the temperature setting of the thermostat control to be moved from a first value to a second value that is closer in value to an optimally desired temperature setting than the first value; and 
 causing the temperature setting of the thermostat control to be set at various discrete values that are progressively closer in value to the optimally desired temperature setting than the second value based on the user moving to different locations after the second user location and in a direction toward the base location, the user's movement toward the base location sensed based on the geo-location of the user's mobile device.